Originally released in 2011, EyeNote® is a free mobile device application developed by the BEP as an aid for blind or visually impaired individuals to identify denominations of Federal Reserve notes from Series 1996 to the present. EyeNote® is built on the Apple iOS platform and is available to download for free in the Apple App Store℠.

The app uses image recognition technology and the device’s integrated camera to recognize a Federal Reserve note and communicate the note’s denomination back to the user. Since it utilizes a continuous scan function, there is no need to hold the device still or capture a photo first; once the app scans the note, it denominates the currency.

As of January 22, 2018, the updated EyeNote® 3.0 app is now 64-bit and works on Apple mobile devices that support iOS version 9.1 or greater. These include Apple iPhone® 5 and newer models, 5th generation iPod® Touch and later generations, and iPad®2 and newer models.

Other EyeNote® Features:

• Utilizes VoiceOver for vocal and gesture feedback if it is turned on for the target iOS device.

EyeNote® does not authenticate a note as being either genuine or counterfeit. Please refer to the license agreement on the Apple AppStore℠ for additional information.

Once the EyeNote app has been downloaded to the user's device the app icon should be placed either on the bottom left or right corner of the screen for easy access, or in the app dock. This will allow for easy access to easily locate and launch the app when needed. If you put the EyeNote app icon as the only icon on the dock, it will center itself and always be located just above the Home button.

The user will launch the app from an icon on the iOS device. The EyeNote app will utilize a continuous scan function. The continuous scanning shall commence once the application has loaded. The EyeNote app will utilize VoiceOver for vocal and gesture feedback if it is turned on for the target iOS device.

Scanning Notes

To complete a successful scan, the note should be positioned 6 to 8 inches away from the camera. The app must scan more than half of the note to recognize it. Adequate natural or artificial lighting is required for proper scanning, for ideal scanning conditions limit hand movement to reduce image blur. For best results, place the note on a flat surface.

EyeNote® Features and Optional Settings

The EyeNote app uses image recognition technology and the device's integrated camera to recognize bank notes and communicate the result back to the user. All current circulating notes from 1996 forward can be recognized by the app:

The EyeNote app supports English and Spanish languages. The device's language setting determines the EyeNote app voice setting. Switch languages by changing the device's settings menu option. If the device language setting is set to a language other than English or Spanish, the app will default to English. The device's volume controls determine how loud the result is spoken. For privacy in Spoken mode, the user can use the devices earphones.

In Spoken mode, the app "speaks" the denomination of the note and identifies if the front or back of the note was scanned. For example: "One Dollar Front" or "Twenty Dollars Back". The front or back orientation is spoken to assist when needed for vending usage. The spoken message for an unsuccessful scan is "Error, Reposition".

The other selectable output is Privacy mode. In Privacy mode, the app will not speak the denomination, but will communicate results back to the user with a pulse pattern (see below). On the iPhone, Privacy mode uses the vibration buzzer for the pulses. On the iPod Touch and iPad 2, Privacy mode uses an audible beep for the pulses. The patterns follow an easy sequential pattern:

Go to Settings, then Sounds. There are 2 Vibrate setting switches on this screen. At the top of the Sounds screen there is Silent, with a vibrate switch setting; this switch does not matter for the EyeNote to vibrate. Scrolling down the screen there is another Vibrate switch just above Ringtone. This Vibrate setting has to be set to ON for EyeNote to vibrate on an iPhone.

IDEAL® Currency Identifier

The BEP, in collaboration with the Department of Education, assisted in the development of the IDEAL® Currency Identifier, a free downloadable app that operates on the Android platform. It uses text-to-speech voice and advanced image recognition technology to read a note and, in a matter of seconds, provides users with an audible response indicating the note’s denomination. IDEAL works locally on the device and needs no Internet connectivity. This application was not designed to, and does not, identify counterfeit currency.

The launch of these apps is not in lieu-of the other accommodations the government is developing to assist blind and visually impaired individuals in denominating U.S. currency. These apps simply provide another option for the public, who are increasingly using mobile devices, to independently denominate U.S. currency.